Balvenie 1974 Dun Eideann 15 Year Old

Dun Eideann is an independent whisky label produced by Andrew Symington of Signatory Vintage. It was devised as a means to allow him to sell whisky in different markets using competing distibutors. For example, the French distributor for Signatory Vintage was La Maison du Whisky, while Dun Eideann was imported by Auxil. Similarly, in Italy the two brands were distributed by Velier and Donato, respectively. There are over 250 bottlings under the Dun Eideann banner, which is the Scots gaelic term for ‘Edinburgh.’

This 1974 vintage Balvenie was bottled for Donato in July 1990.

Balvenie was built by William Grant in 1892 and remains part of his family's company to this day. In the early part of its history, its purpose was primarily for the provision of malt for Grant's blends, however following the global success of Glenfiddich, the Balvenie single malt brand was launched in 1973. It remained a rarity though, and it was not until the opening of Kininvie in 1990, and later Ailsa Bay in Girvan, that the distillery was given the freedom to focus on its single malt. Today it is one of the best recognised brands in the world. As a result, independent bottlings like this one are especially rare.